New Jersey Striper Fishing

All about fishing for striped bass in New Jersey lakes.

While stripers are native to salt water, they naturally migrate into fresh water streams to spawn. Their eggs must remain in motion in order to hatch so the fresh water rivers and streams become the ideal spawning grounds for stripers. Landlocked stripers then populate the lakes.

Striper Fishing Lakes In New Jersey

47 pound striper caught by
Rich Linder in Delaware Bay.

NJ State Record Striper

The Delaware River, Lake Hopatcong, Manasquan Reservoir and Spruce Run Reservoir are great places to look for inland striped bass and hybrid stripers. The costal waters and tributaries feeding into them also contain striped bass. The New Jersey state record striped bass was pulled from the Delaware River.

Fishing for Stripers in New Jersey

When fishing for stripers concentrate on the deeper waters in the lake. If you can locate schools of shad, stripers are often close by. When the baitfish are shallow over the deep water, you can catch stripers on crankbaits or by swimming spoons at appropriate depths. Check New Jersey fishing reports for current striper information. And for the ultimate thrill try large topwater baits if you see any surface feeding action. When the stripers are deep, jigs and jigging spoons work well. Live and cut bait will also take striped bass when they are in medium to deeper water. Fish nearby or in the river channel if it is a defined depth change. Trolling is also an excellent way to fish for stripers. Use flashy lures in bigger sizes.

Learn the migration of stripers

The more you know about the seasonal migration of striped bass, the more likely you are to be looking in the right area next time you visit New Jersey striper fishing lakes. Visit the striped bass fishing page for more in-depth information about striper movements.